Germany’s Kiekert AG began making latches for train cars 157 years ago, has grown to the point where it has its products on one-third of the vehicles on the road. It produced 66 million latches in 2015, and fully 80% of its revenue comes from side door latches. Thus it is essential for the company to continue innovating if it is to keep lower cost suppliers from stealing its business. That’s why there are more than 20 products under development with OEMs, including three of particular interest:

E-Latch

Hot rodders have had a similar system for years that allows them to remove the door handles, replacing them with a flush steel panel. Touching this area completes a circuit, which energizes the lock mechanism, and makes the door pop open. And while Kiekert has shown a very similar design with an LED light ring around the touch zone, production versions — which will debut on an unnamed 2018 vehicle — likely will use a handle that also incorporates the sensor for the keyless entry system. That way, the driver or passenger would simultaneously unlock and open the door when pulling on the short-stroke door handle.